[abeesauntMember]

Hello, I’ve got 2 national hives with open mesh floors each with one brood chamber and a super above (about a third full of honey). I was going to remove the queen excluder in each for the winter and leave any honey in them for their winter stores. Have not taken off honey this year as they are new colonies I purchased in July. I have noticed an amazing surge of nectar and pollen coming in over the last few days which must be the ivy just coming into flower (yellow to slight orange pollen). Have also been feeding a 2-1 sugar syrup over the last couple of weeks. I have read somewhere that when the queen excluders are removed it is best to put the supers below the brood chambers for the winter, moving them back in the spring. Also I am using miller feeders and wondered what is the best way of refilling without getting bees in the syrup? Any thoughts on this please would be greatly appreciated!

[ThePathKeymaster]

Hi John,

Sorry Ive moved this post to the forum as I think its more suited for here, Im keeping the front page of the blog for articles etc . There was an answer to you question from Jo Pearson which I have listed below:

Jo Pearsons reply:

Hi John, I don’t claim to be an expert and also have two Nationals on double brood boxes. Bees have appeared really busy this week, bringing in loads of stores but I did a full check today and one colony was very light so don’t stop feeding!

I THINK the new received wisdom is leave the Brood and a half alone now, then in the Spring you use a queen excluder to make sure she is upstairs, then remove the lower box to clean it and replace any comb that has had brood in it and put it back on top.

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[ThePathKeymaster]

I have never read about moving the supers below the brood chamber? Im unsure of the logic behind that apart from it would grant easier access to feed.

However you are leaving the honey for them to feed on over Winter so you dont need to feed them until it runs out (if it runs out).

Remember you can always supplement their diet with fondant icing which can be put in the entrance etc.

My advise is that if you are leaving the honey for them to over Winter then leave the super where it is! Keep an eye on it and if it gets used up, then you can remove it and start feeding.

Regarding the Miller feeders Im not familiar with them but if bees congregate in the feeding area you could try going in a few days before and place a bee escape (I use a porter) to stop the bees gaining access to that area or use a brush to get them out the way quickly.

A few dead bees wont make too much of a difference to be honest, around 30+ new ones are born each day!

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[barrypatonMember]

In order to keep the bees at the top of the hive where it is warmer, I put the super under the brood chamber and remove the queen excluder. In this way the bees have unrestricted access to the whole hive and they move to the top where it is warmer. As they don't have to try to heat a big space above them, a faster spring build-up is hoped for. It also means that you can see them for the Oxalic Acid treatment in december January.

[ThePathKeymaster]

Good point, well made.

However I wouldnt worry too much about keeping bees warm, they are not pets and should not be treated as such. They have survived perfectly well in cold climes for millions of years, with nobody to re-arrange their hives.

Can you tell us what you have done John?

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